Daylily named `Rosy Returns`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Hemerocallis cultivar of the dormant type named `Rosy Returns` is provided. The new cultivar is very floriferous and forms attractive rose-pink blossoms over an extended period of time that commonly begins during late May to early June and commonly ends during late September to early October in Zone No. 6. The new plant readily forms fans and readily forms a number of scapes per fan. The new cultivar is particularly well suited for growing as distinctive colorful ornamentation in the landscape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofHemerocallis of the dormant type, and hereinafter is referred to by thecultivar name `Rosy Returns`.

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program which hadas its objective the creation of a new Daylily cultivar that is intendedfor use as attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

The cross that resulted in the production of the new cultivar of thepresent invention was carried out in a controlled environment duringJuly, 1993, at Chadds Ford, Pa. U.S.A. The female parent (i.e., the seedparent) of the new cultivar was created by the following crosses:

    (`Pardon Me`×`Happy Returns`)×(`Happy Returns`×`Sugar Cookie`).

The female parent formed a 6 to 6.5 cm. dirty brick red flower of poorsubstance. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the new cultivarwas created by the following crosses:

    [(`Brocaded Gown`×`Happy Returns`) onto (`Pardon Me`×`Happy Returns`)]×(`Happy Returns`×`Sugar Cookie`).

The male parent formed 6 to 6.5 cm. inch plain yellow fluted flowers.Each of the above-named cultivars in the ancestry of the new `RosyReturns` cultivar is non-patented in the United States and is registeredwith the American Hemerocallis Society.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplantlets were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. A number of such plants were transplanted to Bridgeton,N.J., U.S.A. during early 1994. Selective study during July 1995resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new cultivar.

It was found that the new Hemerocallis cultivar of the present inventionis of the dormant type and:

(a) forms attractive rose-pink flowers having a substantial substanceand a flat form,

(b) possesses a long blooming season with substantially continuousblooming,

(c) exhibits a propensity to readily display a plurality of fans, and

(d) readily forms a plurality of scapes per fan over the floweringseason.

The `Rosy Returns` cultivar resembles some well-known cultivars, such asthe `Stella De Oro` cultivar (non-patented in the United States) and the`Happy Returns` cultivar (non-patented in the United States) in thesense that it commonly possesses an extremely long and substantiallycontinuous blooming season of up to approximately 125 days in USDAhardiness Zone No. 6. Such blooming commonly begins during late May toearly June and commonly ends during late September to early October.This compares to a bloom period of less than about 30 days for over 99percent of the hybrid Daylilies that are presently available.

As indicated, `Rosy Returns` exhibits attractive rose-pink flowers thatreadily can be distinguished from the orange-yellow flowers of the`Stella De Oro` cultivar and the medium yellow flowers of the `HappyReturns` cultivar. To the best of the knowledge of the originator `RosyReturns` is the first long and substantially continuously bloomingDaylily having flowers that exhibit a rose or pink hue.

The new cultivar can form up to 14 or more fans per year. This comparesto approximately 6 to 8 fans per year for the `Stella De Oro` cultivarand the `Happy Returns` cultivar. Most Daylily cultivars form onlyapproximately 2 to 3 fans per year. Also, the new cultivar commonlyforms several scapes per fan during the flowering season, unlike mostDaylilies that commonly produce only one scape per fan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by division was initiallycarried out on Sep. 8, 1995 at Bridgeton, N.J., U.S.A. At the time ofsuch asexual reproduction the original plant of the new cultivarconsisted of a clump of fourteen fans that were phenotypically identicalto each other. More specifically, the clump of the new cultivar wasremoved from the field and the fans were divided. It has beendemonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and are well retained following this asexual reproduction.

`Rosy Returns` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light, day length, contact with pesticides, etc.

It is contemplated that the new cultivar will be marketed while bearingthe HAPPY EVER APPSTER trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs were prepared during the late August toearly September 1995 time period, and show as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of thischaracter, the original plant and flower of the new cultivar of thepresent invention. The plant was being grown outdoors in the field atBridgeton, N.J., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 illustrates the plant clump with foliage, buds, and flowers invarious stages of maturity.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up view of a mature flower of the presentinvention wherein the stamens and pistil are visible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is theR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.In some instances, more common color terms are provided and are to beaccorded their usual dictionary significance. The original plant of thenew cultivar is described when observed during early September 1995while growing at Bridgeton, N.J., U.S.A. under field growing conditions.

Classification:

Botanical.--Hemerocallis hybrid, cv. `Rosy Returns`.

Commercial.--Daylily.

Plant:

Foliage.--Form: single stem, substantially erect shapes from afan-shaped plant having narrow arching, long, keeled, grass-likeglabrous leaves that are two-ranked at the base of the scape. Quantity:abundant, with a mature plant commonly having approximately 12 to 14leaves per fan. Leaf size: commonly approximately 1.3 cm. in width onaverage and approximately 31 cm. in length on average. Leaf shape:linear and long-keeled (as illustrated in FIG. 1) with entire margins.Texture: glabrous. Color: medium green, Yellow-Green Group 146A. Type:dormant with the plant losing all of its foliage during the winter.

Scape.--Color: Lettuce Green, Yellow-Green Group 144A. Height: commonlyapproximately 40 cm. on average.

Disease resistance.--Typical of Hemerocallis with no problems havingbeen observed to date.

Inflorescence:

Bud.--Form: modified oblanceolate (as illustrated in FIG. 1). Size: onthe day prior to opening commonly approximately 6 cm. in length onaverage and approximately 1.2 cm. in width on average. Opening rate:commonly approximately three hours on average. Sepal color: when sepalsfirst divide, Lettuce Green, Yellow-Green Group 144A. Pedunclecharacter: rigid and sturdy. Peduncle color: medium green, Green Group138A.

Flower.--Size: commonly has a diameter of approximately 11 cm. onaverage and a depth of approximately 5 cm. on average. Borne: singly onthe branchlets of a sturdy erect rachis which is ramulose. Each scapecommonly has at least three peduncles, each of which divides intoapproximately ten pedicels. Blooms per scape: Commonly ranges from 1 to3 each day. Petalage: each flower consists of six perianth segmentswherein there are three sepals (outer segments) and three petals (innersegments) all in an imbricated arrangement. Sepal shape: Oblanceolatewith slightly undulated entire margins and an acuminate apex. Sepaltexture: Ribbed. Sepal size: commonly approximately 6.8 cm. in length onaverage and approximately 3.3 cm. in width on average. Sepal color:rose-pink, Red-Purple Group 67D with a dusting of Red-Purple Group 67Aon the sepal at a diametric point coordinating to the petal's eye zoneand mostly hidden by the overlapping petals. Petal shape: broadlyobovate with entire undulated margins and a broadly cuspidate apex.Petal texture: slightly puckered and ribbed. Petal size: commonlyapproximately 7 cm. in length on average and approximately 5.5 cm. inwidth on average. Petal color: rose-pink, Red-Purple Group 67D with aneye zone of Red-Purple Group 67A, a yellow throat approaching YellowGroup 6C, and an innermost throat of Yellow-Green Group 154A. Bloominghabit: the flowers commonly bloom substantially continuously and thescape commonly is substantially continuously in bloom for up toapproximately 125 days per year in Zone No. 6. Based on the parentageand observations of the new cultivar to date it is anticipated that theplant will perform satisfactorily in Zone Nos. 4 through 9. Effects ofweather: the flowers well withstand rain damage in view of the strengthof the petals. Lasting quality: commonly at least 16 hours. As withother Hemerocallis cultivars, the flower color eventually fades somewhatduring the day with the natural effects of environmental conditions andongoing maturity. Fragrance: slight.

Reproductive organs.--Stamen number: six per flower. Stamen disposition:individually inserted at the summit of the perianth tube. Antherdisposition: introrse. Anther size: approximately 0.8 cm. in length.Anther color: Grey-Brown Group 199B. Filament configuration: slender.Filament length: commonly approximately 4.8 cm. on average. Filamentcolor: rose-pink, Red-Purple Group 67D. Pollen color: Yellow Group 6C.Pistil number: one per flower. Style length: approximately 6 cm. inlength on average. Style color: rose-pink, Red-Purple Group 67D. Stigmacolor: Yellow Group 6C. Ovaries: three-celled, oblong, and becoming aloculiedally three-valved capsule.

Fruit.--Configuration: the seed pod is in the form of an ovoid capsule.Color: at maturity commonly ranges between Yellow-Green Group 144A andGreyed-Green Group 197B. Fertility: the seeds are fertile.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hemerocallis of the dormanttype, substantially as herein shown and described, which(a) formsattractive rose-pink flowers having a substantial substance and a flatform, (b) possesses a long blooming season with substantially continuousblooming, (c) exhibits a propensity to readily display a plurality offans, and (d) readily forms a plurality of scapes per fan over theflowering season.